Economy
NSE Lists Shares of 10 Firms Valued at N3.35trn
By Dipo Olowookere
Shares of 10 companies worth N3.35 trillion have been admitted on the trading platform of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) since the beginning of this year, Business Post has learned.
Of these 10 firms, only three had their shares newly listed on the nation’s bourse and they are Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) in April 2019, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc in May 2019 and Airtel Africa Plc in July 2019.
During its listing by Initial Public Offering (IPO), SAHCO listed 1.35 billion shares worth N6.28 billion on the NSE at N4.65k each.
When it listed its shares on the local bourse by introduction, MTN Nigeria offered 20.36 billion units at N90 each, resulting into N1.83 trillion, while Airtel Africa listed 3.76 billion shares through secondary listing at N363 per unit, amounting to N1.37 trillion.
According to a regulatory document last updated by the NSE on Friday, August 9, 2019, which was sighted by Business Post, 745.24 million shares of May & Baker worth N1.78 billion were admitted on January 24, 2019 at N2.39k each. These equities emanated from the rights issue carried out by the firm, which was 76.04 percent successful.
On February 5, 2019, the NSE admitted 1.13 billion units of Consolidated Hallmark Insurance shares at 65 kobo per unit, resulting into a market capitalisation of N734.50 million. The shares were from private placement to Niger Delta Exploration & Production Plc.
The next month, precisely on March 5, a total of 7.43 billion shares of Lafarge Africa were listed on the exchange at N12 each, amounting to N89.21 billion. The equities were from the rights issue of the cement company.
On April 1, a total of 6.62 billion units of Access Bank valued at N43.01 billion were listed on the NSE at N6.50k each, resulting from the merger between the lender and Diamond Bank.
Business Post further gathered that on May 3, the NSE admitted 3.17 billion shares of Mutual Benefits Assurance worth N1.59 billion at 50 kobo per unit. The shares were from the rights issue of the firm.
In the next month, specifically on June 17, Ellah Lakes listed 1.88 billion units of its equities valued at N8.01 billion on the NSE at N4.26k per unit. They were from the shares issued by the firm to shareholders of Telluria Limited.
Lastly, it was the listing of 586.36 million equities of Fidson Healthcare on July 1 at N4 each, giving a market capitalisation of N2.35 billion. They were from rights issue conducted by the company, which was undersubscribed.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The Debt Management Office (DMO) on Monday allotted bonds worth N929.3 billion to investors from the N1.7 trillion bids it received from subscribers.
The exercise, which took place on Monday, July 20, 2026, was oversubscribed by market participants, reflecting the confidence investors have in the government’s ability to redeem the debt instrument on maturity.
On offer for sale for the July auction was N1.2 trillion worth of the FGN bonds, but the DMO allotted below this, despite receiving bids above the offer.
The papers were offered in 10-year, 15-year, and 20-year tenors, at N400 billion each.
For the decade-old note, investors staked N444.47 billion, but the debt office sold N245.73 billion at an 18.34 per cent coupon rate. For the one and a half-decade-old paper, bids valued at N518.00 billion were received by the DMO, with a non-competitive bid of N50.00 billion, with N302.13 billion allotted to investors at 18.40 per cent, and for the two-decade paper, the DMO got competitive bids of N665.19 billion and N381.46 billion was sold to bondholders at 18.35 per cent.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Yemi Cardoso, disclosed that Nigeria’s external reserves had risen to $52.5 billion, enough to finance about nine months of imports.
He disclosed this on Tuesday at the end of the 306th meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) held in Abuja, where the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) retained the benchmark interest rate at 26.50 per cent as well as the standing facilities corridor at +50/-450 basis points around the MPR.
Similarly, the Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) was maintained at 45 per cent for Deposit Money Banks, 16 per cent for Merchant Banks, and 75 per cent for non-Treasury Single Account (TSA) public sector deposits.
Speaking on FX developments, the central banker said at the $52 billion level, the country’s external reserves were significantly above the internationally recommended threshold of three months of import cover.
On the Naira exchange rate, Mr Cardoso said the foreign exchange market had deepened and was now operating on a transparent willing-buyer, willing-seller basis.
He said the apex bank remained committed to maintaining a liquid and functional foreign exchange market, adding that daily market turnover sometimes exceeded $1 billion.
According to him, the long-term stability of the naira would depend on key economic fundamentals, including increased oil exports, foreign direct investment, and improved domestic productivity to reduce dependence on imports.
He also added that the MPC welcomed the federal government’s renewed commitment to stronger policy coordination, particularly collaboration between fiscal and monetary authorities, which he said had helped reduce the impact of the Middle East crisis on the Nigerian economy.
Mr Cardoso said members of the committee also commended efforts to improve crude oil production and urged relevant agencies to intensify reforms in other sectors, including solid minerals, to boost government revenue.
On the regulatory forbearance granted to banks during the COVID-19 period, he reiterated that this had been discontinued because it had served its purpose.
According to him, the policy had “outlived its time” and was no longer necessary in assessing the health of the banking sector.
“Forbearance, we felt, had outlived its time. Many of you will recall this is something that came as a result of COVID. And now we are in 2026; we did not see the reason why that should continue to form part of the analysis of the banking system,” he said.
Mr Cardoso explained that banks had begun recalibrating their portfolios following the end of the policy, leading to a temporary reduction in outstanding risk assets.
He, however, assured that the development was part of a transition towards a stronger and more sustainable credit environment.
“It reflects a transition to a more sustainable and better quality credit environment, which is what we all want. We don’t want unanticipated shocks that come in a boom-and-bust fashion,” he said.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange extended its recent positive run by 1.17 per cent on Tuesday, July 21, triggered by appreciation seen in four bellwethers.
Leading the pack was FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc, which added N12.00 to its value to close at N153.15 per share compared with the previous day’s N141.15 per share. NASD Plc appreciated by N1.90 to N36.00 per unit from N34.10 per unit, Food Concepts Plc improved by 23 Kobo to N2.48 per share from N2.25 per share, and Afriland Properties Plc grew by a marginal 1 Kobo to N15.01 per unit from N15.00 per unit.
As a result, the market capitalisation of the bourse increased by N30.40 billion to N2.637 trillion from Monday’s N2.606 trillion, and the NASD Security Index (NSI) gained 50.70 points to finish at 4,393.97 points, in contrast to the 4,343.27 points it ended a day earlier.
The unlisted securities exchange recorded a price loser yesterday, and it was Geo-Fluids Plc, which shed 1 Kobo to settle at N2.30 per share versus N2.31 per share.
During the trading day, the volume of securities traded by market participants on Tuesday dropped 99.4 per cent to 322,147 units from the previous day’s 52.6 million units, the value of securities dipped by 89.8 per cent to N19.4 million from the preceding session’s N191.2 million, and the number of deals contracted by 3.6 per cent to 27 deals from 28 deals.
Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc ended the day as the most traded stock by value on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units traded for N8.4 billion, followed by Infrastructure Credit Guarantee (Infracredit) Plc with 2.3 billion units transacted for N6.5 billion, and Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc with 75.4 million units exchanged for N5.3 billion.
GNI Plc also closed the day as the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units worth N8.4 billion, followed by Infracredit Plc with 2.3 billion units valued at N6.5 billion, and Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units sold for N415.7 million.
